Ah yes, the inherent flaws of the contest emerge.

Ask the following questions:
1) Is each vote for the mod, the modder, or a combo of both?
2) Is the winner the one with the most votes, or the one with the best mod?
3) If 1) is variable, can there be a true 'winner' if 'winning' entails acquiring the most 'votes'?

Obviously, the problem is that without objectivity, bias will void any "true winner" in a contest.
In order to attain and maintain objectivity among voters, all entries must be kept independent of their creators throughout the voting process.

Basically, this contest is shot, and in part, it is my fault. We can no longer say that voters on the best mod will be voting objectively, given that bias invoking information is available to the voter, notably the author of the mod. See 1).

The structure of these contests should be changed in order to better attempt at maintaining complete objective voting:
All mods submitted should be renamed by the contest host into a standardized naming format. Using this as an example, the changes would be:
Hacking Chip --> Mod A
Pacificorp --> Mod B
Plasma Trapper --> Mod C
Pacifism --> Mod D

This serves 3 purposes. First, it ensures that bias is not created on voting screen itself because of the mod name. Secondly, it acts to force a voter to actually try out a mod, and not vote outright simply on the basis of the name of the mod or known creator. Lastly, it removes the chance of a mod being recognized by name, and thus opened to bias.

Certain flaws and bias in the contest can't fully be eliminated, of course, such as "signature touches" by modders like code structure or sprite style. However, all should be done on the part of the contest host to ensure objectivity.

Sorry if this was long and annoying, but I think it's important to structure a contest properly if winners are truly being graded on their ability to apply a theme to a mod using their skills, and not being acted on improperly by outside forces.

At least I'm no longer winning.

That would've been terrible.

Quick voter opinion question:
Another WMF two weekends from now? If yes to another WMF, but not two weekends from now, when?

I agree with LowestFormOfWit.

As for us voters, we shall not directly state, mention, speculate, or hint the name or identity of the creators of the mods in our posts. The mods shall be referred to, and only to, as the names which the competition host has given them. Content in the mod, however, can be expressed in the names which the creators has decided. These shall also be applied to the mod creators themselves.

There are no set rules, nor are there punishments for disobeying competition regulations. However, it is our duty has modders and voters to keep bias to a minimum.

I'm between the Plasma Trapper and Pacificorp(pudding gun). I'd like to go with the plasma trapper but the pudding gun not only neutralizes a target it allows me to steal them with a drop ship and sell/kidnap them. I hope the plasma trapper creator improves on it and maybe replaces the tomb bunker module with a square of 4 glowy, plasma-ish doors that allow me to approach the cage from any angle and either kill or abduct the captive with a dropship and maybe have little bolts of plasma shoot out and destroy their weapons like in HL2. As for Pacifism, the apocalypse is not pacifistic it's nihilistic. The Hacking Chips while not directly harmful aren't effective enough by themselves to let you go around without a lethal weapon.

I think they should be bimonthly, halfway through the month.

Seems like a good idea.
Oh, and looks like you are winning by a single vote, Grif.

So July 10th through 12th and July 31st through August 2nd?
What about the regular mod contests? Should contests in general be bimonthly, with a random assortment of them being weekend fests?

Should be like.... week long contest, weekend, week long, weekend, repeating. Maybe not, though. Who knows...

O look, it's a tie!

No way, there's not enough active modders to justify that often of contests.

Well in that case, it kinda has to be either:

2 a month. One weeklong, one weekend.

2 a month. Two weeklong

or

2 a month. Two weekend

I'd say number two personally. Maybe even once a month..

So then, what kind of schedule?

Month one: month contest
month two: weekend mod (x2?)
month three: monthlong

Shorter contests in the breaks between full competitions to keep people interested. Longer contests frequently but not too much so.

I would like to see a showcase of all of the awards, or an awards forum, or a hall of fame sticky, at least.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=15137


Altough i do think maybe there should be a subforum or something to draw more attention to it, seeing as many people think it's a big deal. Or maybe a different icon for it.